3.1(hemes and methods in developmental psychology)

stability across lifespan

Traits or characteristics that remain consistent throughout life

change across lifespan

Characteristics or behaviors that develop or shift over time due to experience, environment, or biology

nature

genetic inheritance — traits and abilities passed down biologically from parents

nurture

environmental influences — everything we experience after conception

continuous

Changes happen in small steps, building on previous skills

discontinuous

• Changes are qualitative, meaning each stage is different in kind, not just degree

• At each stage, you gain new abilities

longitudinal studies

• Researchers study the same group of people over an extended period (months, years, or decades).

• This lets them track how individuals change or stay the same over time

cross-sectional studies

Researchers study different groups of people of various ages at one point in time